The UBC App has been updated for 2016, so we investigated — is it worth the space on your phone?
Opening the app up, the design is clean and thoughtful. Everything related to UBC is condensed into a single page with multiple groups. The aim of the app is that you will not have to make a thousand Google searches to find what you’re looking for on campus. Ideally when you’re hungry, you’ll pull out your phone, click the “Dining” tab and select where you want to eat. For the most part, it works pretty well.
In terms of finding places, it’s easy to do.
The maps section provides a very exact and fully zoomable map to find your classes. It’s possible to search either by the name of the building, or the faculty it belongs to. Bus stops and schedules are also searchable, along with restaurant locations and hours. All hot spots show up as blue clickable dots overlaid on top of Google Maps. It’s intuitive to use and should be very familiar for most people.
“I just get lost less often now thanks to it,” said UBC student Gurshabad Singhera.
News, videos, athletics and alumni sections keep you up to date with the happenings around school. The content is viewable as a feed, so time is saved from not having to actually visit separate websites. Obviously The Ubyssey is still the best source of news, but we won’t fault UBC for trying.
It’s easy to stay connected to UBC while using the app. The events section relays internship opportunities, culture celebrations and general knowledge seminars in a steady feed. Although you won’t find any parties listed, the chances to meet someone cool at the events are just as good.
If you find yourself needing to email a professor with a question, the directory should give you both their phone number and email. Just don’t forget their name!
Usability is pretty good on iOS, but a lot of lag can occur on Android phones. Information was slow to load and there was some stuttering while scrolling pages. There is a nice dark mode on both platforms that allows you to browse the app comfortably at night. You can change the text size in the settings and even set up notifications to alert you of things happening soon.
If you already know your way around campus, have a favourite lunch spot and don't care much for UBC news, then the app won't offer you a lot. But — even though the app has its technical issues — it's useful in saving time here and there, and for staying in the loop about events on campus.
Worth the space? Tell us what you think.
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